#Mathsconf4

I had a nifty solar daytime at La Salle Education's #mathsconf4 in the magnificent Grand Connaught Rooms inwards London yesterday. La Salle ever create an amazing project of running fantastic events for maths teachers. I beloved these conferences - I ever come upward away feeling inspired in addition to excited to last a maths teacher. I besides actually taste coming together upward amongst all the lovely people who I interact amongst on Twitter.

At the previous 2 conferences nosotros heard from Vanessa Pittard of the Department for Education. The start fourth dimension I heard her speak I was real interested inwards all she had to nation - I learnt a lot almost the politics in addition to policies of maths education, merely similar others I was slightly aggrieved past times her constant references to Shanghai in addition to Singapore in addition to the implication that maths teachers inwards the Great Britain were 'substandard'. She did the exact same presentation at the side past times side conference in addition to then it was a relief that nosotros didn't cause got to listen it a 3rd fourth dimension yesterday. Instead nosotros heard the real sensible views of Mark McCourt, who spoke almost the dangers of assuming that pedagogical approaches that operate good inwards ane jurisdiction volition operate good inwards another.

A blurry photograph of my tabular array - @letsgetmathing, @El_Timbre, @WorkEdgeChaos, @DocendoTim, @tessmaths, @dwatson802, @mathszest, @MrMattock, @OxfordEdMaths

I besides enjoyed the speed dating (ie resources sharing) session - I was given some lovely ideas past times @mathszest in addition to @Zfak102 - I'll characteristic these inwards futurity gems posts.

The start workshop I attended was 'From Euclid... to You' amongst the lovely @El_Timbre. In this session Emma talked us through her vast collection of fascinating maths books. I enjoyed seeing extracts from each book, such equally the 'multiple ways to give-and-take a sectionalisation question' pictured below (thanks to @danicquinn for the photo). It was besides interesting to larn that issues inwards maths didactics inwards the Great Britain (for illustration the lack of qualified maths teachers) cause got existed for decades.

The side past times side session I attended was almost Core Maths. My novel schoolhouse is offering Core Maths from September in addition to then it was of import for me to uncovering out what it's all about. It was a real informative session in addition to I'm pleased to take in that there's an fantabulous Core Maths Support Programme website for resources in addition to instance studies.

I was disappointed to fille Craig Jeavons' (@Craigos87) 'Best of the US' session. I oft read United States of America of America blogs in addition to I've featured a number of ideas in addition to resources from these blogs inwards my Maths Gems (such equally Estimation 180, Visual Patterns, Open Middle and Graphing Stories) merely there's lots I've non yet discovered. It sounds similar the session was bright in addition to everyone came away amongst lots of ideas to explore. I promise somebody blogs almost it!

After a overnice hot tiffin (thanks La Salle!) it was fourth dimension for my highlight of the solar daytime - the Tweet Up! This was an chance to network in addition to create some maths. Our Tweet Up squad (led past times the lovely Julia Smith) ready lots of fun activities for people to cause got role in.

The #mathsconf4 Tweet Up Team - Dawn, Nicke, Julia, Emma, Danielle, me, Tom in addition to Martin

Thanks to Dawn (@mrsdenyer) for the fabulous 'you are following' t shirts

I ran a 'lowest positive integer competition' - I've previously written almost this contest inwards my postal service almost From Euclid... to You' amongst the lovely @El_Timbre. In this session Emma talked us through her vast collection of fascinating maths books. I enjoyed seeing extracts from each book, such equally the 'multiple ways to give-and-take a sectionalisation question' pictured below (thanks to @danicquinn for the photo). It was besides interesting to larn that issues inwards maths didactics inwards the Great Britain (for illustration the lack of qualified maths teachers) cause got existed for decades.

The side past times side session I attended was almost Core Maths. My novel schoolhouse is offering Core Maths from September in addition to then it was of import for me to uncovering out what it's all about. It was a real informative session in addition to I'm pleased to take in that there's an fantabulous Core Maths Support Programme website for resources in addition to instance studies.

I was disappointed to fille Craig Jeavons' (@Craigos87) 'Best of the US' session. I oft read United States of America of America blogs in addition to I've featured a number of ideas in addition to resources from these blogs inwards my Open Evening. It was interesting to take in the departure betwixt maths teachers in addition to children inwards their approach to choosing a number - when I create this action on Open Evening the winning number is usually inwards the belatedly teens in addition to hundreds of children select the number one. This fourth dimension exclusively 2 people chose ane in addition to the winning number was two! Lots of people chose prime numbers, specially 17 in addition to 23. Well done to J Thomas for winning the prize.

I enjoyed coming together lots of novel people in addition to catching upward amongst some familiar faces at the Tweet Up.

After tiffin I attended a workshop almost the novel GCSE. I've already looked at the novel GCSE specification in addition to sample assessment materials inwards lodge to write my page 'New GCSE Support' (which is however operate inwards progress) merely there's some elements (eg surface area nether a bend in addition to rates of change) that I hadn't looked at inwards item earlier this workshop. I was interested to larn how students are expected to operate out the surface area nether the bend pictured below - the Trapezium Rule is allowed merely non essential. We were told that students would last required to utilization at to the lowest degree v shapes to guess the full area. I flora this session real helpful in addition to would encourage whatever maths instructor who's non yet looked inwards item at the novel specification in addition to sample questions to create in addition to then earlier September.

Find the full distance travelled in addition to the acceleration at a for certain time

The terminal session I attended was Martin Noon's (@letsgetmathing) 'Marking for the Reluctant Marker'. He shared lots of interesting assessment ideas that his subdivision has tried. It was a real helpful speak in addition to gave me lots to intend about.

The maths cakes were amazing. I was pleased to take in Dawn (@mrsdenyer) win the contest amongst her wonderful Pi cake.

I must nation a big give cheers yous to Tim Stirrup (From Euclid... to You' amongst the lovely @El_Timbre. In this session Emma talked us through her vast collection of fascinating maths books. I enjoyed seeing extracts from each book, such equally the 'multiple ways to give-and-take a sectionalisation question' pictured below (thanks to @danicquinn for the photo). It was besides interesting to larn that issues inwards maths didactics inwards the Great Britain (for illustration the lack of qualified maths teachers) cause got existed for decades.

The side past times side session I attended was almost Core Maths. My novel schoolhouse is offering Core Maths from September in addition to then it was of import for me to uncovering out what it's all about. It was a real informative session in addition to I'm pleased to take in that there's an fantabulous Core Maths Support Programme website for resources in addition to instance studies.

I was disappointed to fille Craig Jeavons' (@Craigos87) 'Best of the US' session. I oft read United States of America of America blogs in addition to I've featured a number of ideas in addition to resources from these blogs inwards my Gems 8 (September 2014)

From Euclid... to You' amongst the lovely @El_Timbre. In this session Emma talked us through her vast collection of fascinating maths books. I enjoyed seeing extracts from each book, such equally the 'multiple ways to give-and-take a sectionalisation question' pictured below (thanks to @danicquinn for the photo). It was besides interesting to larn that issues inwards maths didactics inwards the Great Britain (for illustration the lack of qualified maths teachers) cause got existed for decades.

The side past times side session I attended was almost Core Maths. My novel schoolhouse is offering Core Maths from September in addition to then it was of import for me to uncovering out what it's all about. It was a real informative session in addition to I'm pleased to take in that there's an fantabulous Core Maths Support Programme website for resources in addition to instance studies.

I was disappointed to fille Craig Jeavons' (@Craigos87) 'Best of the US' session. I oft read United States of America of America blogs in addition to I've featured a number of ideas in addition to resources from these blogs inwards my #mathsconf2015 (March 2015)

Mei Conference 2015

Last calendar week was an incredibly busy calendar week for me. On overstep of a number of household unit of measurement events together with personal commitments, I did the following:

• Attended #mathsconf4 inwards London together with helped run the TweetUp
• Hosted #mathsTLP on Lord's Day nighttime together with #mathscpdchat (on behalf of the NCETM) on Tuesday night
• Had my commencement SLT lesson observation at my novel school
• Did my commencement always TeachMeet presentation at #TMEpsom
• Wrote 3 weblog posts together with processed a dozen novel Pret Homeworks
• Travelled to Bath to attend together with acquaint at the MEI Conference.

It was a bang-up calendar week but I'm thus pleased it's over! I've already written nigh #mathsconf4, the #mathscpdchat nigh Problem Solving together with #TMEpsom nigh Pret Homeworks, thus this is my terminal postal service nigh the events of my busy calendar week - this postal service is nigh my sense of the MEI Conference.

Maths CPD

subject specific CPD. Although I produce pick upward closed to ideas from generic T&L events, my instruction benefits the most from conversations nigh maths - both the pedagogy together with the subject. Unfortunately, aside from on Twitter, opportunities for such conversations are few together with far between. My previous school's budget for external courses was null (I'm non exaggerating! No external CPD allowed at all). So at the MEI Conference it was refreshing to come across that closed to schools produce nonetheless let their teachers to attend conferences. I speedily discovered that the chance to larn nigh maths together with educate equally a instructor was immense.

Because I was presenting on the Sat I got to attend that solar daytime for free, together with I was staggered past times both how much I learnt together with past times how much I enjoyed learning. The selection of sessions was huge - over the 3 days at that topographic point were 12 sessions together with inwards each session delegates could direct from 8 options. Many, but non all, sessions were focussed on Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 bird instruction and/or the purpose of technology.

Ideas for Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Level

The commencement session I attended was "The aspirational degree due east student" past times David Philip together with Claire Phillips. The session was nigh how to back upward AS maths students who convey an due east equally their baseline/target grade. We started past times discussing the reasons that thus many students neglect AS bird maths together with thus institute out what David together with Claire convey done at their schoolhouse to improve results. I've persuasion nigh this number earlier (see my post Bridging the Gap to Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 level) thus it was bang-up to remove heed what they've been doing, including:

• They run an algebra bootcamp inwards the 3 days earlier term starts for degree B GCSE students.
• They number students amongst a self-assessment workbook containing the MEI practice for each chapter (and links to solutions).
• They purpose a flipped learning approach for the basics (ie students spotter videos at abode inwards advance of closed to lessons). Feedback from students has been good.
• They convey a department Twitter account (@mathsnewvic) which is the alone means they communicate sure enough pieces of vital data (eg when the side past times side bear witness is).
• They hit students information nigh what questions volition live inwards assessments inwards advance (eg 'the side past times side bear witness volition consist questions from 2011 past times papers') - students thus produce all those questions to gear upward for the assessment, which is amend than doing nada at all.
• They convey whiteboard pigment on the walls. I wrote nigh Vertical Whiteboards in Gems 7 and in ane lawsuit again I've been convinced of their effectiveness. There are lots of alternatives (eg magic whiteboards or writing on windows) if yous can't purpose whiteboard paint. David together with Claire said that oftentimes their students become far inwards lessons together with start solving problems on the walls direct away - sometimes they don't fifty-fifty seat their bags down! If they acquire stuck they are much to a greater extent than probable to inquire closed to other pupil for assist than if they were sitting down. Another delegate said that this approach had transformed her teaching.

There's likewise a few things that David together with Claire conception to implement side past times side year. They intend to brand assessment results (broken downwards past times question) world thus students know who the goodness is inwards each topic, together with they tin thus become to their peers for help. They are likewise going to brand purpose of the MathsWatch App which is gratuitous for students when the schoolhouse subscribes to MathsWatch (the Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 bird video collection is growing).

Problem Solving
I likewise attended a session on Problem Solving at Key Stage 3 together with four amongst Phil Chaffé. During this session I had fun trying out a hit of maths problems.

My favourite problem, which I recollect would live specially suitable for Year 8 or 9, was 'Zag Area 1', which is shown below together with available to download (with solution) from Integral (login required).

The session notes likewise featured these occupation organization bill of fare problems from the FMSP - these volition live available online from September.

All the problems featured inwards this session were drawn from Integral, the FMSP together with Nrich. If you're looking for occupation solving resources thus produce likewise cheque out my recent postal service Favourite Problems.

Mathematical Methods
National Mathematics Teacher Conference inwards March. It was nigh alternative mathematical approaches (eg all the unlike methods nosotros tin purpose to abide by the highest mutual component of 2 numbers). If yous await my 'Methods' page then you'll come across the posts I wrote after the lastly conference explaining the content of my workshop.

This fourth dimension I added an extra subdivision to my presentation - I spoke nigh how to factorise harder quadratics. I demonstrated 3 methods. The commencement was the 'guess together with test' method (commonly used past times anyone over the historic menses of 20), the minute was the 'grouping' method (used past times many Great Britain teachers) together with the 3rd was the 'slide together with divide' method (sometimes used inwards the US, but considered a 'trick' past times many). We talked nigh advantages, disadvantages together with alternatives. If you're interested inwards finding out to a greater extent than thus come across my postal service Factorising Harder Quadratics, which I've only updated. An interesting alternative approach that many delegates had non seen earlier was 'the monic method', which is demonstrated inwards these 2 examples:

I promise that delegates institute my session useful. I did acquire closed to dainty encouraging feedback later on thus I recollect it went well.

Summary

The plenary 'Bouncing Bombs together with Boomerangs' past times Dr Hugh Hunt, Senior Lecturer inwards the Department of Engineering at Cambridge University, was entertaining together with fascinating. Overall my whole solar daytime at the MEI Conference was fantastic together with I regret non beingness able to attend to a greater extent than sessions.

So at that topographic point ends my busy week. I've fallen means behind amongst my to-do listing thus forthwith it's fourth dimension to acquire dorsum on track. First up, I'll proceed to operate on my page of resources for the new GCSE specification.

Thanks to MEI for organising such a high character conference - I actually promise I'm able to attend in ane lawsuit again side past times side year.

#Mathsconf5

Yesterday La Salle Education held their 5th National Maths Teacher Conference. I didn't attend the start 1 (I was really novel to Twitter at the time) but I've attended the final 4 conferences as well as stimulate got actually enjoyed them all. I honey learning to a greater extent than near maths instruction - I ever become dorsum to schoolhouse feeling inspired as well as total of fresh ideas.

This fourth dimension the conference was held at Ponds Forge inward Sheffield. The venue was a flake oil around the edges as well as it was a shame that in that place was no technical back upward available for presenters, but Sheffield is ever a pleasance to visit. I travelled upward later schoolhouse on Friday, spending my long develop journeying marker terrible S1 homeworks (note to self: instruct measure difference again!). At Doncaster I bumped into some other Jo (the lovely @JoLocke1) - it was overnice to stimulate got a companion for the residue of the journey. Following a brief halt at the hotel nosotros went to the pre-conference drinks at All Bar One. It was actually overnice to relax as well as verbalize to people amongst usual interests - I enjoyed chatting near maths instruction amongst tweeps including (pictured below) @suzekward, @Ms_Kmp, @MoreThanMaths and @MsSteel_Maths.

In the morn I walked over to the conference amongst Jo Gledhill (the immature human being Lead Practitioner I'd met on my means to Sheffield), Charmayne Bailey (also a Lead Practitioner, just dorsum from Shanghai) as well as Mo Ladak (AST as well as writer of the vivid website MathedUp!). What fantastic people - I couldn't stimulate got asked for amend company. On arrival I spotted not-so-grumpy Ed Southall (of solvemymaths.com - creator of the Maths Mr Men) - he kindly bought me a bacon sandwich as well as told me near the book he's writing, which is going to live absolutely essential reading for maths teachers.

I'm straightaway going to portion my thoughts on the 3 workshops I attended - I'm non a cracking greenback taker hence these are non detailed accounts, just a few highlights.

New GCSE - Andrew Taylor as well as Craig Barton

This workshop left me slightly terrified near the novel GCSE! I honey Craig's operate but I've never seen him nowadays before. He is a highly entertaining as well as engaging presenter as well as I really much enjoyed listening to his thoughts as well as insights. I'm quite familiar amongst the novel GCSE content - I've complied a whole page total of resources for the novel topics - but taking some other aspect at sample attempt out questions, amongst Craig's commentary, was incredibly helpful. My immediate thoughts were:

• The novel content on Foundation - for instance trigonometry as well as quadratics - is merely non suitable for this tier. The inclusion of these novel topics seems to totally negate the betoken of a two-tier GCSE. This sort of nonsense makes me cross. 
• In my persuasion our maths curriculum is far equally good broad at Key Stage 4 (for both tiers) - instead of including novel topics, topics should stimulate got been removed hence nosotros tin embrace the of import materials inward to a greater extent than depth. The authorities is desperate to improve our international maths rankings, but I believe that what nosotros instruct is a bigger employment than how nosotros instruct - as well as inward my persuasion the novel GCSE has gone inward the incorrect direction.
• The novel GCSE volition include familiar topics inward non-routine questions. I similar the mode of the novel GCSE questions really much but they volition surely nowadays a large challenge for most students. The examples Craig showed clearly demonstrated this. We stimulate got our operate cutting out! 

Craig announced a novel resources from AQA as well as diagnosticquestions.com which I'm sure volition bear witness really helpful.  Here you volition find a collection of multiple selection quizzes inward the mode of novel GCSE questions (more coming soon). As there's a Foundation as well as Higher version for each topic, Craig suggested using the Foundation tests equally a baseline, as well as then instruction the content, as well as then using the Higher tests to assess progress. An instance enquiry is shown below.

As I've said, I don't brand cracking notes at conferences - but I was sitting side yesteryear side to Ed during this session and, equally you lot tin see, his notes are crystal clear... Yes, that's a sheep.

Paper Maths - Jenny Steel
Pink-haired Jenny is fabulous, as well as I knew just what to aspect from her workshop - lots of fourth dimension to play amongst paper, interspersed amongst instruction ideas. It was actually fun as well as in that place was a lovely atmosphere inward the room. I'm non cracking amongst this sort of matter (I've never had whatever success whatsoever amongst origami) but foldables (which are large inward America) are definitely something I tin manage.

Check out Jenny's blog for lots to a greater extent than near this. She's planning to gear upward a website for sharing foldables too.

During this workshop I was really lucky to sit down side yesteryear side to Kim (@Ms_Kmp) who writes the wonderful website mathssandpit.co.uk - she's really creative as well as was showing me all sorts of fantastic newspaper maths. Here's my tabular array enjoying themselves:

Thanks to Suzanne Gardner for showing me a clever play a joke on for making a quick revision booklet. And Ed (@solvemymaths) told us how to revitalise gum sticks - seat a driblet of H2O inward the lid, seat the lid on as well as acquire out it upside downwardly overnight. 

Overall this was a cracking workshop - thank you lot really much to Jenny for organising it.

Shanghai - Bruno Reddy, Craig Jeavons, Matt Fox

With 3 presenters just dorsum from Shanghai, I knew there'd live a lot to larn here. I enjoyed this session really much. As good equally all the myth busting (most strikingly, the youngster sleeping at the dorsum of a classroom), enough of transferable instruction ideas were shared inward this session. Craig has blogged near it here - slides as well as notes volition live available presently hence these ideas tin live shared to a greater extent than widely. 

We looked at how indices are taught, including the progression of questions which was fascinating. We also looked at translation (that's slide/glide to my non-UK readers) - I honey the means the topic is introduced using videos as well as pictures, followed yesteryear really clear, good structured explanations.

Narrative plays a large business office inward maths lessons inward Shanghai - I wrote near the benefits of instruction through storytelling inward my post service near High Expectations.

Picture by @DrBennison

Overall this was an first-class session - I liked hearing near maths instruction inward Shanghai from 3 dissimilar perspectives as well as the content gave me a lot to intend about.

I was pleased amongst all my workshop choices. I'm getting amend at picking the correct sessions - those that incorporate master copy ideas or helpful insights as well as are direct relevant to my usage or embrace an surface area of involvement to me. I was really distressing to immature lady Kris Bolton's workshop on the Stories of Maths, but Tom Bennison came to the rescue as well as filmed the whole verbalize (video here) - hurrah!

I hope that people who attended my workshop on Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade resources institute it to live content-rich as well as good structured - whatever feedback is welcome. I want I'd had to a greater extent than fourth dimension hence that delegates could stimulate got a become at to a greater extent than of the activities I shared. But I did my best to embrace equally much equally I could inward l minutes as well as I promise people institute it helpful. I've written all near my workshop blog for lots to a greater extent than near this. She's planning to gear upward a website for sharing foldables too.

During this workshop I was really lucky to sit down side yesteryear side to Kim (@Ms_Kmp) who writes the wonderful website mathssandpit.co.uk - she's really creative as well as was showing me all sorts of fantastic newspaper maths. Here's my tabular array enjoying themselves:

Thanks to Suzanne Gardner for showing me a clever play a joke on for making a quick revision booklet. And Ed (@solvemymaths) told us how to revitalise gum sticks - seat a driblet of H2O inward the lid, seat the lid on as well as acquire out it upside downwardly overnight. 

Overall this was a cracking workshop - thank you lot really much to Jenny for organising it.

Shanghai - Bruno Reddy, Craig Jeavons, Matt Fox

With 3 presenters just dorsum from Shanghai, I knew there'd live a lot to larn here. I enjoyed this session really much. As good equally all the myth busting (most strikingly, the youngster sleeping at the dorsum of a classroom), enough of transferable instruction ideas were shared inward this session. Craig has blogged near it here - slides as well as notes volition live available presently hence these ideas tin live shared to a greater extent than widely. 

We looked at how indices are taught, including the progression of questions which was fascinating. We also looked at translation (that's slide/glide to my non-UK readers) - I honey the means the topic is introduced using videos as well as pictures, followed yesteryear really clear, good structured explanations.

Narrative plays a large business office inward maths lessons inward Shanghai - I wrote near the benefits of instruction through storytelling inward my post service near here for those who didn't attend.

A Susan Wall activity from my workshop

TweetUp

Julia Smith (@tessmaths) did a vivid chore of organising the TweetUp at lunchtime. I was inward accuse of the photobooth - give thank you lot you to all who posed for a photo.

Cakes as well as Gifts 

Huge thank you lot to Andrew Paget, Julia Smith as well as Rob Smith for the gifts - such generous people. Thanks also to Luke Graham for inviting me to acquire involved inward his GCSE collaboration session which I'm sure he'll weblog near soon. 

Apologies for non mentioning everyone who I spoke to - it actually was lovely to run into novel people, as well as to reckon people over again who I've met at previous conferences.

I ever honey the cake contest - the within of the Rubik's Cube cake was especially impressive! All the cakes were awesome, but I was pleased to reckon the circle theorem cakes win the prize - banking corporation check out the tiny tangents.

Overall it was a cracking hateful solar daytime - I met many many lovely people, talked a lot near maths teaching, felt inspired, as well as survived my workshop inward 1 slice (phew!). Thanks to La Salle for some other vivid conference. See you lot all at the side yesteryear side one.

#mathsconf5 inward activeness - painting by @dmg_13

#Christmaths15

It's hard to know what to write virtually #christmaths15 because I'm notwithstanding a fighting overwhelmed yesteryear it all.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 few months agone I decided that I wanted to run an consequence which would supply an chance for teachers to beak virtually the novel GCSE. Importantly, I didn't desire it to endure an consequence simply for tweeters - I wanted it to endure opened upward to anyone who had an interest. Originally I was thinking of a cross betwixt a TeachMeet in addition to here) - a combination of CPD in addition to a social event. I've e'er enjoyed throwing parties in addition to Christmas seemed similar the ideal fourth dimension to create so.

Once I started contacting potential venues, I realised that it was going to endure far to a greater extent than hard than I originally thought. I couldn't abide by a large, well-located pub business office room that had AV facilities in addition to was available for gratis hire for a whole afternoon in addition to evening. I searched high in addition to depression in addition to was virtually to surrender when I stumbled upon Pause Bar, which is a business office venue located inwards the City of London - my stomping solid set down when I worked inwards Banking.

I was required to gild nutrient inwards advance which meant I had to accuse for tickets - this wasn't ideal because I was hoping to acquire inwards a gratis event, but I decided to have got a withdraw chances that people would endure willing to pay. I booked it at half-term, putting downward a hefty deposit which wiped out my meagre savings. I at nowadays regretted it! The pull per unit of measurement area was on.

Over the next calendar month my married adult man was subjected to constant updates - 'I simply sold some other ticket! Wooo!' in addition to 'I haven't sold a ticket inwards two days! This is a disaster' - that form of thing. Thankfully it did sell out pretty quickly, showing that at that spot is strong need for events similar this. I ended upward alongside a waiting list.

I had a lot of decisions to brand - speakers, food, drinks, music, puzzles, quizzes, handouts... My budget was pretty tight in addition to hence it was all really DIY (it took forever to impress the programmes on my dwelling household printer!). I did my best to acquire inwards all every bit slick in addition to professional person every bit possible. AQA really kindly provided materials relating to the novel GCSE (and gratis pens!). Emma Bell (@El_Timbre) provided puzzles in addition to Rob Beckett (@RBeckett_Yd) brought along copies of Chalkdust Magazine. I couldn't afford a DJ in addition to hence did a playlist myself, in addition to I wrote my ain quiz (which is here, if you'd similar a go! Answers available on request). From the £25 ticket price, £2.50 went direct to EventBrite in addition to some £22 went on food, drinkable in addition to service. With the balance I bought everyone a Lindt teddy!

Thankfully things went good on the day. The venue looked pretty, sparkling alongside Christmas lights. The welcome drinks went downward good in addition to the nutrient was really nice. People seemed to have got a skilful time. Most importantly, the CPD was really good received. There were a twain of problems -  the wifi was intermittent in addition to some people couldn't encounter the covert from their seat. I'm hugely lamentable virtually these things. Otherwise I shout back it was a success. I was incredibly anxious inwards the weeks leading upward to the consequence in addition to hence I'm really relieved it went quite smoothly on the day.

The speakers were brilliant. I knew they would be. I am hugely grateful to all of them. I volition write some other postal service virtually the primal ideas I took from their sessions, in addition to I volition percentage their presentations if I can.

Who bought me a Jägerbomb at 6.30pm?! You know who you lot are! I had no chance of surviving the black inwards i slice later on that. Mel (@Just_Maths) was on move yesteryear cast too, getting inwards circular later on circular of Baby Guinness. For the concluding twain of hours at that spot were exclusively a dozen of us left but nosotros had such an awesome time.

Tweeters enjoying the party

Sambuca alongside Tom Quilter of pinpointlearning.co.uk. (Rob Smith photoboming!)

I actually enjoyed chatting to in addition to hence many lovely people - I can't listing them all hither but they know who they are. Huge thank you lot to my friends who helped me gear upward everything upward at the showtime of the event, those who bought me drinks in addition to those who called me a taxi at the terminate of the night. Thank you lot also to everyone who either came to the consequence or supported me inwards some agency (particularly my long-suffering husband!).

I was given a bill of fare which was signed yesteryear my guests - I'm incredibly touched yesteryear this. I volition treasure it.

I can't brand whatsoever promises that I'll run some other consequence adjacent year! At times I was actually stressed virtually it all. It was sure the biggest projection I've ever taken on. Hosting a political party is hard move in addition to at times I said 'never again', but I know what I'm similar - I can't resist! I'm non sure virtually the venue though, in addition to the jury's out on whether it volition endure summertime or Christmas. Watch this space!

Finally, here's a Storify of the tweets from before, during in addition to later on the event. It's lovely to read through in addition to encounter how much people enjoyed themselves. I'm actually chuffed.

Merry Christmas everyone! From a really tired but happy @mathsjem.

Dates For The Diary

2015 has been the nearly eventful twelvemonth of my teaching career to date. I returned to piece of occupation from motherhood locomote out inwards Jan together with took on a Lead Practitioner piece of occupation at a novel schoolhouse 6 months later. I continued to hold upwardly a busy blogger together with tweeter throughout the twelvemonth together with was chuffed that my efforts were recognised at the Britain Blog Awards inwards April. During 2015 I attended numerous instruction events including maths conferences, TeachMeets, debates together with my really ain Christmaths party. Although it's tempting to write a long together with rambling reflection of all the events of the year, instead I've decided to await at what 2016 has to offer. There's loads going on inwards the twelvemonth ahead together with this post lists a few highlights. Full listings tin hold upwardly flora here.

January
Back to schoolhouse together with the chaos starts all over again. If your schoolhouse is form plenty to allow you lot out for a day, I reckon La Salle's National Maths Education Symposium on Th 21st Jan is worth a look. The programme is excellent.

I'm incredibly jealous of anyone who is able to attend the side past times side Peterborough Maths Network event. They've alone managed to describe of piece of occupation upwardly the nearly awesome mortal inwards the maths instruction - Don Steward! This lawsuit takes house after schoolhouse on 19th Jan together with you'd hold upwardly foolish to girlfriend it.

It's also my birthday on sixth January... simply saying.

February

It's a outflow year! Did you lot run across this tweet from Matt Parker? I ♥ numbers.

Sure, 2016 is non divisible past times v similar 2015, but it is divisible past times EVERY OTHER SINGLE-DIGIT NUMBER. fourth fourth dimension ever. Max possible until 2520.

— Matt Parker (@standupmaths) December 27, 2015

March together with April
Have you lot noticed how brusque the Spring Term is? Easter falls early on inwards 2016. As a lawsuit there's an awful lot going on during March.

The write-up of the concluding conference to larn an persuasion of what goes on.

I'm also actually looking forwards to Julia Smith's (@tessmaths) Easter Maths Camp which is on 28th together with 29th March in sunny St Osyth, Essex. There's all sorts of lovely activities lined upwardly - contact Julia if you lot desire to larn involved.

As always, the ATM together with MA are belongings their conferences over the Easter holidays. The ATM's Easter Conference 2016 is inwards Warwick from Tuesday 29th March to Fri 1st Apr together with the MA Annual Conference 2016 takes house inwards Oxford from Fri 1st Apr to Dominicus third April. Both get got splendid programmes. Hopefully when my children are older I'll hold upwardly able to attend 1 of these residential conferences.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 brace of weeks into the Summer Term is my write-up here) then if you lot larn the gamble to go, I actually recommend it.

July together with August
I'll hold upwardly presenting on Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 marking resources at the annual FMSP Key Stage v Teachers Conference inwards London on eighth July - details to follow.

Tom Bennison (@DrBennison) is organising an East Midlands KS5 Mathematics Conference on ninth August at the University of Nottingham. With the upcoming implementation of new Key Stage v specifications, Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 marking CPD is going to accept centre phase over the side past times side 2 years. Tom is planning what sounds similar an splendid lawsuit - I volition part details when they are announced.

September to December
#mathsconf8 takes house inwards Manchester on 1st Oct - it's a chip of a trek for me but I wouldn't girlfriend it!

I'm certain there'll hold upwardly lots to a greater extent than Autumn Term events announced closer to the time. Maybe fifty-fifty a #christmaths16... And (fingers crossed) I actually promise to organise something when the novel maths gallery opens at the Science Museum. Watch this space.

Quick - larn these dates inwards your diary now!

Throughout the twelvemonth there's loads of fantastic local events organised past times bodies such every bit the Further Maths Support Programme together with the Maths Hubs. I haven't listed everything here, but there's ever plenty going on for maths teachers then create detect out what's happening inwards your area.

I await forwards to seeing you lot at an lawsuit inwards 2016.

Happy New Year!